White House adds media position to combat unfavorable stories

The White House is stepping up its rapid response media operation, creating a communications position to respond to unfavorable stories on the Web, the Huffington Post reports.

HuffPo’s Sam Stein writes that Jesse Lee, a member of the Obama administration’s new media department, will take on a new role in replying — at times aggressively — to stories that paint the administration in a bad light.

In a preview of what his duties may be, Lee blasted Fox News commentator Glenn Beck in a White House blog post, accusing Beck of lying and engaging in a “partisan attack to boost ratings.”

“This week, Jesse Lee will move from the new media department into a role in the communications department as Director of Progressive Media & Online Response,” said Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer in an internal memo obtained by the Huffington Post.

“For the last two years, Jesse has often worn two hats working in new media and serving as the White House’s liaison with the progressive media and online community,” the memo read. “Starting this week, Jesse will take on the second role full time working on outreach, strategy and response.”

Lee is also expected to deal favorably with the “progressive media,” according to the memo.